Project management in the public context: research field mapping

Abstract The advent of New Public Management introduced the concept of project management until then exclusive to the private sector, paving the way for increased state efficiency. In this scenario, this article aims to locate, synthesize, and identify the theoretical proximity among studies on project management in the public context. The bibliometric methodological approach used relational analysis of citations and the methods of cocitation and coupling to reveal the connections among the studies published. Exploratory factor analysis of cocitation and coupling led to six factors, indicating the intellectual structure, and enabling the generation of a factor integration framework from the most frequent citations. The results indicated the prevalence of studies on project management and e-government competencies. It also amplifies discussions with the presentation of an agenda directed explicitly to the management of public projects.